Advanced Practice in Healthcare
- Study mode
- Part-time
- Duration
- 36-72 months
- Start date and application deadlines
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- Start date
- September 2025 January 2026
- Apply by:
- Starts on:
About this course
Explore specialist areas of practice in-depth on this flexible master’s degree. With an overarching theme of advanced practice, you can enhance your expertise in healthcare, gain the research and leadership skills essential to the role of the advanced practitioner, and tailor the programme to your own requirements.
Introduction
This MSc provides a flexible programme of study for healthcare graduates and experienced health professionals that will consolidate your existing knowledge and develop your skills to an advanced level.
The programme will advance your clinical expertise, enhance your research skills and support you in devising a detailed personal development plan.
We’ll encourage you to reflect on what constitutes advanced practice in contemporary healthcare and explore concepts of leadership, management and education in advanced clinical practice.
The flexible nature of this multi-professional course enables you to tailor your learning to reflect your individual professional needs. There are options for profession-specific pathways through the programme. These may be clinical, managerial or more generic in nature.
Optional module choices cover a broad range of specialisms, from cancer care, management and therapies to a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, neurological care, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), therapeutic communication skills, and risk management. The programme team will provide guidance on the most suitable and relevant module choices for you.
Work-based learning is a key feature of the MSc, with emphasis placed on the development of interactive, collaborative and interprofessional communities of practice in contemporary healthcare settings.
Who is this course for?
This course is suitable for graduates in health and social care subjects, as well as junior doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
What you'll learn
- Public health promotion and prevention strategies.
- Effective history taking and physical and social assessment techniques.
- Enhanced clinical skills, for example physical examination techniques, practical procedures, communication skills, and management.
- The changing context of what constitutes advanced practice in the culturally and social diverse contemporary global healthcare environment.
- Contemporary theories and concepts of leadership, management and education for advanced clinical practice.
- Enablers for effective collaborative practice and interprofessional working.
- Research methods typically used in health and social care.
- How research relates to professional knowledge and evidence-based practice.
- Specialist knowledge from optional module choices covering a wide range of disciplines, from therapeutic communication skills to a variety of musculoskeletal conditions.
Course content
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Year one
This course is available to start in September or January. If you choose to start in January, you’ll undertake taught modules from January to May and then September to January in year one.
You’ll study four compulsory modules and choose one optional module in year one.
Modules
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year two
This course is available to start in September or January. If you choose to start in January, you’ll undertake taught modules from January to May and then September to January in year two.
You’ll study one compulsory module and choose two optional modules in year two.
Modules
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| CRITICAL UNDERSTANDING OF RESEARCH FOR ADVANCED CLINICAL PRACTITIONERS (HEAL4852) | 20 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year three
You’ll complete a dissertation in year three. The module you study will depend on whether you started the course, and will therefore also commence your dissertation, in September or January.
On successful completion of the course, following a January start, you can expect to graduate at our summer graduation ceremonies.
Modules
| Optional modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| DISSERTATION (HEAL451) | 60 |
| DISSERTATION (SEMESTER 2) (HEAL461) | 60 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Teaching and assessment
How you'll learn
The programme combines taught modules with a work-based model of learning so that you graduate ready to meet the demands of health and social care professions and the NHS workforce transformation agenda.
Alongside interactive lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and independent study, work-based learning is a key component of this programme. Emphasis will be placed upon the development of meaningful communities of practice where you’ll be encouraged to share knowledge you’ve gained with your peers.
A blended approach is adopted, with a combination of online and campus teaching used for the majority of modules.
How you're assessed
The assessments on this programme are designed to authentically reflect the requirements of a constantly changing global health and social care environment. They vary from practical skills assessments to a personal development plan and exercises to enhance your digital literacy.
The programme includes a combination of written exams, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), presentations, posters and assignments. There is also a dissertation which can be completed across one academic year and is normally undertaken as the final module of the course.
Compiling a professional portfolio will enable you to consolidate your learning and ensure you can demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours required of an advanced practitioner.
Liverpool Hallmarks
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
The Liverpool Curriculum framework sets out our distinctive approach to education. Our teaching staff support our students to develop academic knowledge, skills, and understanding alongside our graduate attributes:
- Digital fluency
- Confidence
- Global citizenship
Our curriculum is characterised by the three Liverpool Hallmarks:
- Research-connected teaching
- Active learning
- Authentic assessment
All this is underpinned by our core value of inclusivity and commitment to providing a curriculum that is accessible to all students.
Course options
Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.
Study as a CPD module
You can study some of the modules on this course as standalone CPD (Continuing Professional Development) modules. Contact us using the buttons at the bottom of the course page to find out more.
Gain a Postgraduate Certificate
If you enrol on a master’s degree and complete 60 credits you may be able to exit the programme early and earn a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) for the work you have completed. This usually amounts to one semester when completed full-time.
Gain a Postgraduate Diploma
If you enrol on a master’s degree and have completed 120 credits you may be able to exit the programme early and earn a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) for the work completed. This usually amounts to two full semesters when completed full-time, without having to complete the final dissertation module.
Your experience
The School of Allied Health Professions and Nursing draws on over 100 years of teaching delivered by dedicated staff with real-world, practical experience. We are a hub for an extensive network of professionals, academics and researchers, so you can be confident that a degree from us will prepare you for a lifelong career in healthcare services.
Explore where you'll study
Virtual tour
Supporting your learning
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
- Careers and employability support, including help with career planning, understanding the job market and strengthening your networking skills
- A dedicated student services team can help you get assistance with your studies, help with health and wellbeing, and access to financial advice
- Confidential counselling and support to help students with personal problems affecting their studies and general wellbeing
- Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team. They can identify and recommend appropriate support provisions for you.
An exciting place to study
- Major centre for education and research in health sciences
- State-of-the-art facilities
- Opportunities for in-depth study and development of advanced clinical skills
- Flexible programmes for postgraduate study
- Active research environment
- Provides specialist training with taught and clinical placement components.
Chat with our students
Want to find out more about student life?
Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.
Careers and employability
The programme develops the advanced skills necessary to manage physical and mental healthcare across a range of settings. These vary from hospitals and general practice to individual’s homes, schools, prisons and public, private, independent and charitable sectors.
Alongside the relevant clinical expertise, you’ll gain the leadership, research and educational skills required of an advanced practitioner. This will enable you to work inclusively and innovatively, either autonomously or as part of the wider health and social care team, within your scope of practice.
Advanced practitioners and senior health professionals are in high demand to help meet the evolving needs of individuals, families and communities.
The programme has been designed to support your career development and is relevant to roles across all healthcare settings. These include:
- Primary care.
- Community care.
- Emergency settings.
- Acute care.
- Mental health services.
- Learning disabilities support.
The programme is flexible and adaptable in response to an ever-changing health and social care system. It will enable you to develop and deliver innovative models of care, gain specialist knowledge and extend the scope of your skills into new areas.
Career support from day one to graduation and beyond
Career planning
Our campus Career Studio is a space for students and graduates to drop into and talk to a career coach. Career coaches are highly trained to help no matter what stage you are at in your career planning. You can access support to find and apply for full-time and part-time roles, placements, internships and graduate schemes. You will also find the help you need if you have a start-up idea or want to create a business plan. You can explore the world of work, prepare for job interviews, and access careers events and workshops. The Career Studio is open Monday to Friday from 10am-5pm, simply drop in at a time that works for you.
From education to employment
We develop our programmes with employers in mind. You will be supported to enhance your long-term employment prospects as you learn. We do this by exposing you to professionals, a variety of sectors and supporting you to work collaboratively with others to develop transferable skills. You are equipped with a clearer view of what to focus on in your area of interest, and to reflect on your studies. Our digital employability tools give you a tech-enhanced curriculum experience and make it easy for you to prepare for the world of work. You can use tools like the Handshake platform to connect with employers and message the Career Studio 24/7.
Networking events
You can start building good professional networks by attending events and employability activities. Our events are designed to develop your skills and expose you to many different employers, as well as to help you make contacts in your field. We help you improve your confidence when speaking to employers and give you access to unique opportunities. Our networking events also boost your understanding of the competencies and skills that employers are looking for in their recruitment process, giving you a competitive edge.
Fees and funding
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Tuition fees
UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)
Part-time place, per year - £5,400
Fees stated are for the 2024-25 academic year and may be subject to change for 2025-26. The part-time fees are based on a course duration of three years. Fees may vary on a pro-rata basis for alternative part-time course durations.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support.
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You can pay your tuition fees in instalments.
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All or part of your tuition fees can be funded by external sponsorship.
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International applicants who accept an offer of a place will need to pay a tuition fee deposit.
If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan worth up to £12,167 to help with course fees and living costs. Learn more about paying for your studies.
Additional costs
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this course.
Scholarships and bursaries
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition and living expenses.
Graduate Loyalty Advancement Scholarship
If you’re a University of Liverpool graduate starting this master’s degree with us, you could be eligible to receive a loyalty discount of up to £2,500 off your master’s tuition fees.
Entry requirements
The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| Postgraduate entry requirements | You will normally need a 2:2 honours degree or above, or equivalent, in a health or social care related subject. Applications are also encouraged from:
Accreditation of prior learning may be considered to a maximum of a third of the credits for the award. |
| International qualifications |
If you hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet our entry requirements, a Pre-Master’s can help you gain a place. This specialist preparation course for postgraduate study is offered on campus at the University of Liverpool International College, in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways. Although there’s no direct Pre-Master’s route to this MSc, completing a Pre-Master’s pathway can guarantee you a place on many other postgraduate courses at The University of Liverpool. |
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Why study at Liverpool?
Liverpool bursts with diversity and creativity which makes it ideal for you to undertake your postgraduate studies and access various opportunities for you and your family.
Accommodation
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Fees and Finance
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Contact us
Have a question about this course or studying with us? Our dedicated enquiries team can help.
Last updated 28 March 2025 / / Programme terms and conditions